TicketsSept. 16, 2009
Game Notes | Roster | | Live Audio
AT A GLANCE
Date: Sept. 19, 2009
Time: 6:45 p.m. (EST)
Location: Corvallis, Ore.
Venue: Reser Stadium
Capacity: 45,674
Surface: FieldTurf
Live Stats: GoBEARCATS.com
Series Record: UC leads 1-0
In Corvallis: First Meeting
ON THE AIR
FOX Sports Net will televise the game nationally. Steve Physioc (play-by-play), Mike Pawlawski (analyst), and Rebecca Haarlow (sideline) will have the call.
The game will air over the Cincinnati Bearcats Radio Network presented by IMG College starting at 6:15 p.m. on 102.7 WEBN FM and on Sirius Channel 152. Dan Hoard (play-by-play), Jim Kelly Jr. (analyst), Tom Gelehrter (sideline), and Mo Egger (host/engineer) make up the UC broadcast team.
The radio broadcast can also be heard over the internet at GoBEARCATS.com.
No. 17/21 FOOTBALL Heads West For Matchup With No. 24 Oregon State
The University of Cincinnati football team, off to a 2-0 start after a 70-3 win over Southeast Missouri State on Sept. 12, heads to Reser Stadium Saturday to take on No. 24 Oregon State. UC had the third-highest scoring output in school history last week in front of 30,421 fans at the home opener. Mardy Gilyard was named the BIG EAST Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 53 yards for a score, UC's first punt return TD in 12 years. He finished the game with four touchdowns, and became the first NCAA FBS player since 2005 to score by a reception, rush, and return in the same game. The Beavers knocked off UNLV 23-21 in Las Vegas and will look to defend a 26-game non-conference winning streak at Reser.
A UC THUMBNAIL
UC returns eight offensive starters, including Tony Pike (QB), Jeff Linkenbach (OL), and all-America wideout/kick returner Mardy Gilyard. The Bearcats return only one starter on defense (Aaron Webster), but the depth chart features veteran players who have seen extensive playing time. UC has a new defensive coordinator in Bob Diaco and a new multiple-front defense.
THE SERIES
Cincinnati and Oregon State meet for the second time on the gridiron Saturday. UC knocked off the Beavers 34-3 on Sept. 6, 2007 at Nippert Stadium in their only previous meeting.
THE COACHES
Brian Kelly, the two-time reigning BIG EAST Coach of the Year, is in his third full season at the helm of the Cincinnati football program with a 24-6 record and a 19-year career mark of 161-57-2. Kelly led the Bearcats to a school-record 11 wins, a BIG EAST Championship, and a Bowl Championship Series game berth in 2008. He won two NCAA Division II National Championships at Grand Valley State and led Central Michigan to the 2006 Mid-American Conference Championship. He is the leader in victories among active BIG EAST coaches and is the only current BIG EAST coach with 150 or more career wins.
Mike Riley is 58-42 in his ninth season with the Beavers. He is 0-1 against UC.
STREAKS, STORYLINES, SIDEBARS
- UC is ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll, and No. 21 in the USA Today Coaches poll entering the week. This marks the third-straight season UC has been ranked.
- UC is playing in the State of Oregon for the first time.
- The Bearcats have scored 117 points in two games and are 2-0 for the second time in three years (2007).
- Cincinnati is second nationally behind No. 1 Florida in scoring offense (58.5 ppg), having produced one less point than the Gators through a pair of games.
- Cincinnati leads the NCAA FBS in passing efficiency, ranks second in turnover margin (3 to 1), fifth in total offense (571 yards per game) and fifth in tackles for loss (10).
- Tony Pike is fourth nationally in passing efficiency, while Mardy Gilyard is tied for second among all players in scoring.
- UC is the first nationally ranked non-conference foe to visit Corvallis since No. 13 BYU in 1977.
- Cincinnati is 10-7-1 all -time when ranked.
- Under third-year coach Brian Kelly, Cincinnati had its second straight 10-win season in 2008. Before Kelly arrived, Cincinnati had exactly one 10-win season (1951).
- UC set a school record with its 11 wins in 2008.
- Cincinnati was picked third in the BIG EAST preseason media poll, despite the Bearcats' receiving as many first-place votes (eight) as favorite Pittsburgh.